CSJ Trailer for Heelwork To Music OEC 2014

Peter Melling -  film maker on behalf of CSJ - one of the Major Sponsors of HTM Team GBR - travelled to Stuttgart, Germany for the Open European Championships and has taken footage of the event.

Click HERE to see the trailer.

Thanks to Peter Melling of Video4site - it's super!

Saturday 15th November - Heelwork To Music Day

The Championship opened at 08:15am so unfortunately the team once again had to be up really early to reach the venue in good time. Each handler had a specific time in the warm up ring - then a specified time for their routine - this was organisation at its very best!  Stewards were collecting handlers for their warm up time and informing them when to set off for the actual competition ring - a choice of stairs or lift and the route was cleared by marshals.  Perfect!

Good Luck wishes  from the other competitors!

There were 15  Countries entered - with 43 entries from Italy, Japan, Denmark, Russia, Sweden, The Czech Republic, Belgium, Great Britain, Switzerland, France, The Netherlands, Hungary, Slovakia, Finland and Germany.  The draws had been made about 3 weeks prior to the competition - drawing countries first and then a random draw of each handler per country. This worked really well as the Team GBR received their running orders as follows:
09:32   Number   8  Lucy and Skiffle
11:32   Number 19  Kath and Denby
13:24   Number 30  Kath and Amber
14:44   Number 40  Helen and Maia  
This gave time for each competitor to be supported and cheered on by fellow team mates!

Lucy and Skiffle

Super - fun routine!   Very well executed! Their score gave them 3rd Place!!

Denby ready for the start of his music

And the end pose!!

Kath with Amber

Concentration needed!!!  And finished in 7th Place

Helen and Maia - setting a good pace

Great footwork!  And finishing in 16th place

The HTM Team GBR worked really well and their combined scores gave them a well deserved 2nd place in the Team Championship!   WELL DONE HTM TEAM GBR!

The HTM Team GBR - Lucy Creek, Kath Hardman and Helen Dennis
led by Team Captain Karen Sykes - entered the Arena

 

All the HTM Teams were invited back into the Arena for the announcement of the Top Ten Finalists for the Individual Championship.  They would have to repeat their routines and the new score would be added to the earlier score for their final placings.

Nicci and Nala
HTM Team Reserves were given the opportunity to perform
their super routine and entertained the audience during the break

They worked really well giving a great performance

The Individual Final with Lucy and Skiffle first in for HTM Team GBR

Another great performance!

Followed later by Kath with Amber

Kath was pleased how well Amber worked for a second time.

The Judges : Katharina Henf (Germany) Nóra Karlyik (Hungary)
 Esther Niemeijer (The Netherlands) Heather Smith (Scotland) Attila Szukalek (England)

Kath with Amber finished in 9th Place

Lucy and Skiffle finished in 4th Place!!!

A very proud HTM TEAM GBR 

The HTM Team Trophy

The end of HTM Day with a parade around the ring.

HTM Team Winners Russia - HTM Team GBR Second Place and Belgium Third Place. 

The Final Team Training Session

The final Team Training Session.   Good fun had by all in the last preparations.  

Denby and Kath work their way around the excess props!!!

Goodness - Lesley and Helen ready to swat flies?

A great session with good food and good company.  Good Luck cards and gifts sorted, final travel and accommodation preparations done.  
Yes - the Team is ready and would like to thank everyone for their support and generosity in making this trip possible.

Please note the the Kennel Club is not supporting Team GBR, however, full permission was given to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a Team.

Nicci with Nala and Carol Mortimer Radio Lincolnshire

Nicci Hindson and Nala, along with Carol Mortimer spoke to BBC Radio Lincolnshire about the preparations for the OEC's. 

Nicci was interviewed by the reporter Leigh, who was so impressed she then wanted to try Heelwork To Music for herself.,   Nicci demonstrated a few of her Team Dog, Nala's favourite moves for her to try. 

Watch Nala working for the programme reporter Leigh:

If  you would like to listen to the interview,  it is available for just 7 days at http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p028llt2   

1st Interview at 01:53:00    2nd Interview at 02:52:00

Please note the the Kennel Club is not supporting Team GBR, however, full permission was given to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a Team.

Lucy In Team Colours at Avonvale Vets

Saturday the 25th of October Lucy, Teasel and Skiffle had fun at the open day of the new branch of the Avonvale vets in Stratford Upon Avon! 

They did two demonstrations to a good local crowd and were there the rest of the day to answer questions. Lucy was also interviewed for the local radio station 'Touch FM'. By the end of the day they were all quite tired (but not too tired for a final photo!). 

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

Lesley's Auctioned Lesson Success

From Ann Carrington:

Recently I won the opportunity to train with Lesley thanks to an on-line auction via facebook raising funds for the Team to compete in Stuttgart Germany..

First of all I was very impressed with her set up with a brilliant area for training and a great place to exercise dogs off lead. It was such a great session and opened my eyes to a lot of things that are not usually covered in freestyle training classes simply because there isn't time. The idea of choreography filled me with dread, I have absolutely no skills in that what so ever and to coordinate movements and music for myself let alone my dog requires a whole new skill set that I needed to develop.

Whilst I have researched on the net many times about choreography there's nothing I've found that actually gives the bare bones of the skill.

The time just flew by and even though Lesley was very generous in giving more of her time that was bid for, it seemed sadly to go in the blink of an eye but yet we covered so much in that time.

Canine freestyle for me is addictive, the more I do and learn the more I want to know and learn and I just so wish that there was an on-line auction every day, I'd be there!!! 

Misty my Border Collie boy always loves his training sessions and I'm sure he got as much out this exciting time with Lesley as I did. 

All I can say is thank you very much Lesley for your generosity with your time and efforts we both got so much out of it and that Misty and I truly appreciated the opportunity we had. 

Please note the the Kennel Club is not supporting Team GBR, however, full permission was given to Louth and District Dog Club to enter a Team.

Helen and Maia at Ynys Mon, Anglesey

Helen and Maia took the opportunity and trained instead of competing at Anglesey Show to work on a section of the routine that had been changed slightly.  

Thank you to Allan Brown for the lovely photos 

This was more of a test for Helen to get her feet right, rather than for Maia to do the work! Helen said that co-ordinating her mouth, arms and feet has been challenging at times!!

Thank you to Ynys Mon Dog Training Club, Anglesey  for letting us raise funds for the Team.

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

Introducing Karen Sykes - HTM Team Leader

I first competed and judged in 2001.  Since then I have continued to compete, judge and teach but never did I imagine back then where this sport would take me.  Thanks to HTM I have travelled the world making many great friends through the sport.

 

What I love about Heelwork to Music and Freestyle is that it is the only dog sport where you can do exactly what you want to within the rules and let your imagination run free.  You can show-case the individuality of your dog and never have to perform a move that doesn’t suit your dog.  Dogs, dancing and music are a magical combination which gives so much joy to many!

I have 3 dogs, Fly, Erin and Midge.  Midge is my one year old working sheepdog and is dancing along nicely taking 2 first places at her first 2 shows.  Erin is my 5 years old rescue cross breed and was Reserve Freestyle for Team GB 2013 in Holland.  Fly, my 13 year old working sheepdog won Crufts HTM in 2008 and the HTM Individual Open European Championships in Denmark in 2011.  This year Fly was selected to represent Great Britain for the 3^rd year running but sadly has had to be withdrawn due to ill health.

Although very disappointed not to be competing, I am delighted to be travelling to Germany in the role of Heelwork to Music Team Leader.  I am very keen to fully support the British Team.  With my wealth of experience in competing internationally I feel well qualified to help the entire Team produce their best, both in training and at the Open European Championships

Finally many thanks go my constant companion, Allan.  He has been by my side since 1983 encouraging me and supporting me in everything I have done, looking after our dogs when I have been travelling and helping me to achieve things that I would never have thought possible.  Thanks Allan!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 

the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

The Entries have been Accepted and Confirmed

Open European Heelwork to Music Championships

14^th to 16^th November 2014

Stuttgart, Germany.

Louth and District are pleased to announce the Entries have now been accepted by the OEC Organisers.    

The selected members of the Team  from Great Britain who will be competing in Germany are as follows:

Heelwork to Music Team  (In alphabetical order)
HTM Team Leader Karen Sykes

Handler	Dog’s KC name	Breed	Pet name
Lucy Creek	Harriot Skiffle King	Border Collie	Skiffle
Helen Dennis	Goddess Spring Of Jucando	WSD	Maia
Kath Hardman	Stillmoor Lady In Red	Border Collie	Amber
Kath Hardman	Stillmoor Extra Special	Border Collie	Denby
Reserve Nicci Hindson	Ravestar Scarlet Dancer	WSD	Nala

Freestyle Team  (In alphabetical order)
FS Team Leader Lesley Neville

Handler	Dog’s KC name	Breed	Pet name
Lucy Creek	Dialynne Making Waves	Beagle	Teasel
Kath Hardman	September Spice	Crossbreed	Spice
Nicci Hindson	Ravestar Scarlet Dancer	WSD	Nala
Christina Oxtoby	Legacy’s Eze Ezekiel	Border Collie	Eze
1st  Reserve Lucy Creek	Harriot Skiffle King	Border Collie	Skiffle
2nd Reserve Lesley Neville	Brambledale Blue Dewy	Bearded Collie	Dewy

Team Manager at the event Kath Hardman

Good Luck to them all.

Apologies as Christina couldn't make the Team Practice and not featured on the photos.

(Taken by Allan Brown)

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain

Lucy - Thanks to Avonvale Veterinary Surgeries

Big Thank You to Avonvale Veterinary Surgeries!  

Today Teasel and Skiffle went off to the vets to have their vaccinations for their pet passport. Avonvale Veterinary surgery at Wellesbourne are kindly sponsoring Teasel and Skiffle by doing the pet passports and their vaccinations free of charge! 

 They are soon to be opening a branch at Stratford upon Avon when Skiffle and Teasel will be attending the opening. More details to follow on that! 

The dogs and Lucy had their photo taken for the Avonvale newsletter. An exciting time for these team members!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

The Team at Strictly Canine

Some of the team competed or trained at the Strictly Canine HTM Competition held at Arena UK Allington.  Team supporter Allan Brown took these photos.

Dewy and Lesley gained a 5th place in the Advanced Heelwork To Music class, very good for a young dog who has only just worked his way up to the Advanced classes.

In the Advanced Freestyle Class Dewy pulled out all the stops and flew through the air to gain 2nd place.   Watch out for flying Beardies!"

Helen and Maia gained a third place at the competition.  

Maia kicked her feet out around the large arena having the time of her life! 

Kath and her youngest dog Denby were entered in the HTM Class but just took advantage of the huge ring for working out a floor plan of their new routine in preparation for the OEC!

A good game of tuggy set the right atmosphere too - more play than work!!   Kath other two team dogs (Amber and Spice) had good fun the following day in the same ring during a Training Show.

 Nicci Hindson was very busy running the show but made time to do two nice training rounds with Nala.

 Lots of reward for the new sections of her heelwork to build her confidence

 With some proofing work on parts of her freestyle where she was starting to anticipate.

Nicci was very pleased with how she worked.

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, 
the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.

Fundraising at Appleby Village Fayre

On Sunday 15th June, Nicci and Nala took part in a demo at Appleby village fete. 

They performed their individual routine twice and joined with Nicci's friend Emily Crookes and her dog, Lexie to perform a pairs routine. 

The Appleby Village Fayre committee gave them a lovely donation towards their trip to Germany.  Thank you for your support!!!

Please note that the Kennel Club is not supporting the team in selection or any other way, however, the Kennel Club has given permission to Louth & District Dog Club to enter a team from Great Britain.